Poskay Named Wagner Head Coach

Boston, MA (June 10, 2011) – Boston Cannons star Matt Poskay, a former All-American who played on two National Championship teams at the University of Virginia following a storied high school career and the 2010 MVP of the Major Lacrosse League, has been named Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach at Wagner College, Athletic Director Walt Hameline has announced.

For the past two seasons, Poskay, 27, has served as an assistant coach at Drew University in his native New Jersey where he helped the Rangers to a pair of winning seasons. Prior to his stint at Drew, Poskay served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, A.L. Johnson Regional High School in Clark, New Jersey. It was during his record-setting playing career at Johnson where Poskay began garnering national attention.

He has held the national high school record with 362 career goals for nearly a decade and also tallied 468 career points, tops in state history. On the gridiron, he was a First-Team All-State quarterback as a senior and Second-Team his junior year. He was also the starting point guard for three years on the basketball team.

“We are obviously thrilled to have Matt heading up our lacrosse program” said Hameline. “His experience at the high school, collegiate and professional levels speak for themselves. I am confident that Matt’s background and high energy will resonate in recruiting and help our student-athletes compete at a higher level. He’s been a winner his whole life and I believe that he possesses the ability to transmit that winning edge to our program.”

Poskay, who is ranked fourth all-time at Virginia fin goals by a midfielder, helped lead the Cavaliers to national titles in 2003 and 2006. He was selected in the second round of the 2006 Major Lacrosse League Draft by the Boston Cannons following his five-goal performance in the Cavaliers’ NCAA title game win over UMass.

In 2006, he led the Cannons in goals and was named the team’s Rookie of the Year. His 2007 season was even better as he was named a MLL All-Star and then preceded to win the MLL All-Star Game MVP. In 2008, he was again named to the MLL All-Star team while leading the Cannons with 34 goals. The pinnacle of his professional career came in 2010 when he was not only the MVP of the league but also the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.

“I’d like to thank Coach Hameline and Peg Hefferan (Associate Athletic Director) for giving me the opportunity. I think it’s a great school in a great area, located in the tri-state region where there’s tons of lacrosse in the surrounding areas,” Poskay said. “With the sport continually gaining in popularity, it’s a great opportunity to build on the Wagner athletic tradition and to build the lacrosse program.

“I’ve learned from so many different coaches at so many different levels,” he added. “I’m going to try and develop these kids. These kids who hopefully saw me grow up and play, I want to teach them the things I learned from the great coaches I’ve had in the past. That’s my end result, to make these people better people in the world and also better lacrosse players.”

Poskay graduated from the University of Virginia’s, McIntrie School of Commerce with honors in 2006. He was a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Scholar All-American as well as an ACC Honor Roll selection three times.

Poskay takes over for Jason Rife who resigned last month.

What They’re Saying About Matt Poskay

“He’s such an intelligent lacrosse mind and I’m sure that will transfer over to his being a head coach. He understands what we’re trying to do from an offensive standpoint. He reads defenses and puts himself in a position to always be a threat and that’s why he’s put up the numbers he’s had. I regard Matt as a coach on the field for us. This is his second year as a captain for us as well. He not only leads but he leads by example more than anything.”- Boston Cannons Head Coach Bill Daye

"Everyone here at Virginia is excited about this opportunity for Matt at Wagner. Matt has been successful with everything he has touched and he is one of the bright, young lights in the coaching profession. The people at Wagner are going to thoroughly enjoy getting to know Matt and this is an exciting moment for Wagner Lacrosse. Matt Poskay is going to be a terrific head coach."- Virginia Head Coach Dom Starsia

“Matt’s a great player and a quality individual. He’s had success at every level of lacrosse from youth up to professional. He’s a great teacher. He coached with us after he came back from Virginia, joining the staff at Johnson for a couple years. He’s just a great mind, a great motivator. This will be a great opportunity for him.’- Former Arthur l. Johnson Regional High School Head Coach Tony Calandra